River Thames Boat Project

Job title: Fundraising Manager

Salary: £35,000 pro rata

Hours: 3 days (22.5 hours) per week

Location: Home based with expectation of regular attendance at office (Teddington), some evenings and weekends for events and funder meetings when required.

Reports to: Executive Chair

Summary

This exciting new role will raise the funds to enable The River Thames Boat Project to expand our cruises and education programme on the River Thames, and cover our annual running costs.

Through your fundraising expertise, you will have a proven track record of raising capital funds, building relationships with individuals, community groups, trusts and foundations and other donors to achieve and exceed annual capital and income targets. You will have the skills to create compelling proposals and appeals that successfully engage and attract donations from new and existing supporters.

Background

Established in 1988, our charity's mission is to make the River Thames accessible to all.

We provide opportunities for individuals to experience river and waterways environments to enhance their personal, social, and educational wellbeing.

Using our fully wheelchair-accessible community boats we deliver educational programmes for children and young people across London and the South East, and therapeutic cruises for people of all ages who have limited access to the Thames due to health issues, disabilities, isolation or social exclusion.

A small staff team of four and more than 100 volunteers support the charity. In 2021, we received The Queens Award for Voluntary Service. The charity, more than thirty five years old, is run by a volunteer Board of Trustees.

We rely on grants, donations and community fundraising to subsidise the cost of our charitable activities on the River Thames.

We are seeking a fundraising professional to grow our charitable income across all streams (grants, foundations, corporate sponsors), raise significant capital funds, reinvigorate our members program, diversify our fundraising income and establish a volunteer fundraising committee.

As Fundraising Manager you will also be responsible for marketing the charity to prospective clients through mailings, social media and other routes.

What you'll be doing

1. Develop and execute a fundraising strategy that aligns with the charity's business plan and future ambitions
2. Develop and maintain strong relationships with prospective and existing funders
3. Research potential trust and foundation funders, write compelling bids and ensure effective reporting and stewardship
4. Revitalise the charity's members' program (Friends of RTBP)
5. Create and lead a volunteer fundraising committee to support our initiatives.
6. Ensure effective records are kept and a database developed for fundraising and the members' program
7. Ensure all fundraising is compliant with GDPR and other legal and best practice standards
8. Develop and implement marketing plans for the charity's cruises and education work
9. Attend the Trustee finance and fundraising committee and produce reports on activities and income as required

What we're looking for

1. Proven experience in raising capital and income for small to medium size charities from multiple sources
2. Self-motivated and proactive with great interpersonal skills to work with staff members, volunteers, trustees, and external funders from individual to corporate donors
3. Proven ability to research funders, write compelling bids and manage relationships with funders
4. A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
5. An interest or link with the Thames or environmental activities is desirable

Skills you'll have to succeed in this role

• Proficient in Microsoft 365
• Able to create compelling, professional designs for promotional and marketing materials using Canva or Adobe suite.
• Technically literate, with strong understanding of how to use Meta and LinkedIn
• Strong understanding of SEO and Keywords for creating blogposts.
• Good knowledge of Wordpress websites, to be able to update the site when necessary.

If you're passionate about fundraising and supporting the local community and excited to bring your your energy and ideas to a charity making the River Thames accessible to all, then we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, please send your CV, along with a one page supporting statement directly to the Thames Boat Project. Please answer the following three questions in your one page supporting statement:

1.Why do you want this role?

2.What experience do you have in raising funds for capital projects?

3.What do you think are the three most important steps in raising capital funds?

If your experience matches what we're looking for, then we'll be in touch with more about the application process.

Deadline for applications is February 27, 2026. Interviews will be held early March - dates TBC.